Chapter 436 United Hearts

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"Yeah, it is not so easy, Zack." My father replied, as the young boy lowered his head and remained in silence, it seems he felt ashamed to think that.

"These people had been harboring the hate for a while." Said Nepheline. "Well, we can't just always blame humans, right? Demons have also done an enormous part of the damage as well. There's just… no side that is right or wrong. But I still believe we are heroes, somewhat… Our duty as heroes is to protect innocent people, not just to protect a certain group from the other."

"Indeed, the demons also attacked, both sides are… well, I guess they're both victims and the perpetrators at the end. It is an endless cycle of revenge, war, and death…" My mother sighed.

Suddenly Aquarina and Zack felt very down, as they were listening to very heavy stuff.

"Faylen, don't talk about that in such a way." Sighed my father.

"Ah… Sorry. You kids have grown so fast now that I sometimes forget that you're still young… Maybe you shouldn't be present here…" My mother began wondering.

"No, we want to stay…!" Aquarina said. "W-We have already fought against these people firsthand; we have gone through all these things as well… we can't just ignore them…"

"Yeah, I know its hard but I want to know more. If I'll ever grow into the left hand of Aquarina and Sylphy, two future heroes… that's the least I can do." Zack said. He seemed to be very decided to become our "right hand" as an ally and reliable warrior as we move forwards in our future lives as heroes.

I don't really want to be a Hero myself, but I've been given the Divine Blessing already, everyone here is expecting me and Aquarina to take a decision eventually. With the strength we have and which will simply continue growing more in the future… I guess that's inevitable.

"I agree. I don't mind hearing these things and… well, I kind of agree with mom… It always feels like an endless cycle. I wonder if there'll ever be a way to stop this cycle somehow." I sighed.

"Many have tried, we are not the first heroes to have existed after all…" Shade added. "But they always end in obscurity, and the cycle continues without stopping. Sometimes it makes you feel like everything's hopeless."

"Shade…" Nepheline said, looking at her husband.

"Papa… N-Not everything is hopeless! Don't think so gloomily!" Aquarina reprimanded her father. "A-As long as we can help the people here… even if a little, we can make a change! Right? What always matters is the present! You've… always said that to me."

Shade's blue eyes shone brightly, filled with emotions.

"You're right…" He sighed with a smile, caressing his daughter's head. "As long as we can do a small change, even if small, even if temporary… we'll be doing our duty, and we'll be helping innocents."

"Isn't that the truth of our duty?" Said my father. "We can't really fathom to change the world… But we can change the small things we come across. With your strength, it is more than a given."

"I know this sound childish but as long as we keep ahold of this hope, we can continue moving forward without feeling regrets." Nepheline added.

"Well said my friend. I might not be a True Hero, but I have the strength to help, I'll do anything I can as well, even if these people are not related to me, and even if these things might not change things as a whole… I simply can't stand still having this strength and merely seeing how things end up becoming more catastrophic." Sighed Ninhursag. "Back then, I didn't had the strength to change my fate, I didn't had the power to do a single thing… Now that I have it and I can do something about the fate of others, why wouldn't I?"

At Ninhursag words, everyone nodded in unison. Zack seemed to see his adoptive mother with yet even more admiration.

"I can't disappoint my boy after all." Ninhursag said with a smile, patting Zack's head, and then giving him a kiss on his forehead.

"Ninhursag…" Zack felt moved.

As everyone spoke and was decided, the elves seemed to be more silent, me included.

"Hahah… You guys are always so spirited. Humans are sure amazing." My uncle laughed.

"They indeed are." My mother sighed. "That's why I've fallen in love with one."

"And from that "forbidden" love, little Sylphy came." Said Arafunn, a charming smile directed itself at me.

"Eh? Ah…" I felt slightly embarrassed when they spoke about me like that.

My mother suddenly approached me as she hugged me.

"Sylphy… Whatever decision you take in the future… I know it will be the right one. I will support you, no matter what."

"Mom…"

"Even if you choose to not be a hero, even if you choose to simply live your life as you please… Even if you simply adventure across the world, or close yourself inside a mountain… I'll support you."

"Ah…"

"I don't want to… put the responsibility of what we are to my daughter. That's not why I've been fighting all this time. So until the end of my days, I'll be a hero instead."

My mother smiled honestly, kissing my forehead.

"Of course! We are fighting all this time, trying to make a better future however we can because we want our kids to live as they please, in peace." Said my father.

"For now, let's do what we can." Said Shade. "As long as I have my daughter and my wife, I think I can do anything."

"Me too." Said Nepheline.

"Hahahah~ Oh my! You're all so cheery! Sigh… I guess I'll have to just join the fray, right? I'll support you all, my old friends!" My uncle said, suddenly feeling motivated for the first time since I meet him. "Onwards!"

Arafunn was the most charismatic man I've met, leading the party of heroes with his showiness.

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